Robbo: Point a harsh penalty

A late failed penalty appeal on Charlie MacDonald only rubbed salts into the wounds for MK Dons manager Karl Robinson, who felt his side deserved more than a point against Preston North End.

The match, which was shown live on Sky Sports, ended in a stalemate after appeals for a penalty were waved away by referee Craig Pawson, and the result sees the Dons stay in seventh, just outside the play-offs.

In what was a tight encounter between two promotions chasing sides, the Dons extended their unbeaten League run to seven games and remain in the pack at the top end of League 1.

However, Dons boss Robinson was left feeling aggrieved that his team didn’t get a chance to snatch a victory from the penalty spot.

Speaking after the game, he said: “I don’t know how it wasn’t a penalty, it was very similar to the one Izale McLeod won against us last weekend.

“I think the referee believed it was a penalty because he looked to his assistant straight away but he kept his flag down.

“It’s disappointing because you work hard all week and you do your homework and then that can happen but I’m sure the officials will see they’ve got it wrong and they’ll accept that.

“But I thought we were magnificent in the first half. We conducted ourselves in a very professional manner, defending really well and closing them off and I think we were the better side.

“We knew in the second half they would have a spell where they would throw the kitchen sink at us but we rode the storm and showed that we really wanted it.

“I’ll take a point but I’m disappointed as we should have had all three. We’ll move on now to Stevenage and Crawley and we’re all looking forward to it, I can’t wait.”

Although the result may have disappointed the neutral fan watching on the television, the Dons’ performance certainly wouldn’t as they proved once again why they’re one of the better footballing teams in the League.

And Robinson praised his players for their effort and performance and believes they should still be proud despite the scoreline.

“To me those players in there are heroes, every single one of them. We’re like a family this group, we have arguments and disputes but that is just an example of how much we care and I think today we showed that the Club means an awful lot to us.

“Preston are a big club and so to come here and be disappointed with a point proves how far we’ve come.

“So we’ll move away from here unhappy with a point but satisfied as the players couldn’t have given anymore.”